CDU wins $20 million to develop online flexible capacity

Charles Darwin University’s capacity to deliver innovative and flexible tertiary education programs has been boosted with the announcement of a $20 million grant from the Australian Government.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover said the funding would enhance CDU’s capacity to appeal to local and interstate students in a deregulated and increasingly competitive student marketplace.

“We will invest the funds in a major expansion of our ability to deliver high-quality online education throughout Australia,” he said.

“It will allow us to draw together the technology, curriculum, pedagogy and infrastructure necessary to increase our appeal to interstate students while at the same time reinforcing our commitment to build capacity in the Northern Territory.”

Professor Glover said the deregulated student market to come into effect next year would open the doors of Australia’s universities to all students regardless of where they lived.

“It will be a new world with new pressures and new opportunities, but I am confident that any challenge to our sustainability will be more than adequately matched by our capacity to adapt,” he said.

“We already have the expertise in regional and remote environments and we have expertise in tailoring content and delivery to meet the needs of non-traditional student groups, such as those who must balance work and study commitments.”

Professor Glover said the money had come from the Australian Government’s Structural Adjustment Fund that would disperse $377 million for new teaching and learning facilities to several regional and outer metropolitan universities.